Parents plan to sue Rockstar over homicide

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the family of a teen allegedly killed by a friend acting out a scene from manhunt (see our coverage) plans to sue the game's publisher, according to the scotsman. the paper says the family has already hired a lawyer to file the suit against rockstar games. this comes in the wake of several retailers in the u.k. pulling the game from their shelves.

parents(11:56am est mon aug 02 2004)what i would like to know is where were the parents when this happend. does any of them watch their kids? – by huntermt8

dude… seriously…(12:00pm est mon aug 02 2004)… it was bad enough they blamed it on the game in the first place… now they're going to file a law suit against it's makers…? i'd sue the parents of the attacker if anyone. he was the one f*cked in the head who thought that cracking open his mates head would be a good idea. – by the patriarch

true(12:09pm est mon aug 02 2004)it is sad these days that tv and video games (and even friends) raise kids these days. there are many families with two working parents who don't have time for their kids. parents should take the time spending it with the families.

a note: violence was present way before video games ever came about. even before video games (and tv) people were f*cked in the head. – by parents suck.

for pete's sake!(12:13pm est mon aug 02 2004)give us a break. i saw the poor woman on the tv talking about the case (i think, the mother) and yeah, i'm sorry for her but come on, i've played games and as far as i am aware none of them have “made me” go and knock the crap out of my mate with a claw hammer and a kitchen knife. this kid had a problem, a game may have had an influence over him but he did it not the frickin game.

and, here's the clincher and something that may have a bearing on the case. the killer was/is a minor, under 16 as far as i am aware and the game is an 18. where in this is the responsibility of the parent to ensure their children are brought up correctly? does the mother not have a very important role in helping to ensure the safety of a minor in her care? in which case why the fuck was her 15 year old playing around with what can only be described as adult material.

it is too easy a shot to blame a computer game. more people in my fair isle are killed by cars driven by joy riders than by people with hammers and knives out for some ultra-violence. it's time the wisdom od soloman returned and some perspective was arrrived at over this matter.

bloody chavs.– by spacca

the thing the puzzles me…(12:19pm est mon aug 02 2004)despite the fact that everyone is against blaming the videogame, they still go ahead with it. what do they expect to achieve? – by the patriarch

there's a good side to this….(12:35pm est mon aug 02 2004)people aren't blaming heavy metal bands any more.– by music pirate

this case is going nowhere(12:35pm est mon aug 02 2004)rockstar games is not at fault, its because of poor parenting that this kid killed someone with a hammer. sure its a shame and someone should pay for it, but not rockstar. i have played videogames nearly all my life, the majority of which are violent, but i have yet to kill anyone. the whole point of these games is to be able to do somthing that you could never do in reality, within the constraints of the law. well for sane people anyways. there was defanitly more wrong with this kid than just playing manhunt.

rockstar games: not guilty – by j_b

ridiculous(12:36pm est mon aug 02 2004)“mudrder by playstation”

was the headline in the daily mail, a british tabloid. – by andythecat

like mother like son(12:40pm est mon aug 02 2004)stupid mother got sick cell in the brain, come on, get real. everyone knows that the action she has against rockstar is for money. – by gta3

it's sad….(12:44pm est mon aug 02 2004)that the mother is using her own son's death for a financial gain. what an awful mother. – by stupid parents

too bad(12:57pm est mon aug 02 2004)i think we're all underestimating how hard it is to keep track of a teenager.

what's pathetic is that a company has to make trash games/tv/movies in the first place. – by centred

game violence(12:59pm est mon aug 02 2004)fuking parents should get off there a$$ and teach there kids the diffrence between life and a freaking video game and not blame the game maker – by seraph

lawsuit?(1:00pm est mon aug 02 2004)is there a lawsuit pending on the retailer that supplied this game to a minor? – by really

wow gotta love escape goats (1:03pm est mon aug 02 2004)games don’t make wacky people, wacky people are bought out by the games. they were fud in the head in the first place. the game was the outlet that brought it out. the mother should look on the brighter side. it was only her son. that kid could have killed a lot more people later on in life.

its funny someone put a 50's video online about how porn was hurting america’s youth. the spokesmen gave an example of this male that was overwhelmed by looking at theses naked females that he went out and killed a 5 year old girl. this person was messed up in the head to begin with the porn mags just brought it out. people should embrace theses games and other outlets as a tool to bring out the dumb a**es and kill them when they are younger.

case closed stop wasting tax payers money over dumb a**es– by da guru

you are all wrong(1:13pm est mon aug 02 2004)yes a parents responsibilty is to raise their children, but you can not tell me that thesegames do not effect the thinking of minors. i am a heavy gamer myself and probably screwed up in the head befor eplaying but these games should not be being played by minors. now i do feel a law suit is stupid because the games have atings and the parents need to make sure they know what their children are doing. this is not the case anymore in america where parents do not do the job regardless of having to work full time. lets look at the music and the games also the movies out today. don't be ignorant to say that it does not have any effect on kids. most kids today are retarded when it comes to education and when it comes down to them getting jobs, they will be only able to flipp burgers. – by weneedadraft

not guilty…. but who cares!(1:15pm est mon aug 02 2004)this is the kind of crap that leiberman (us senate) loves to bs about. games kill people… games kill people… blah blah blah… last i checked, the kid with the hammer killed the other kid. now maybe if his manhunt cd got up on its own accord and flung itself across the room like a razor into the other kids throat, then maybe… just maybe, i would say games kill people. i had an m-16 and you know what, i killed people, but it was my job. anyway, these parents lack responsibility. my nephew plays tiggers honey hunt and tarzan (he is 4) and doesnt go about bouncing on his tail or climbing trees. so even at young ages, most, 99.9% at least, can tell the difference between a game and real life. its the damn parents who probably coddled their kid and told him he can do no wrong, then said “here son, play manhunt”. on top of that, the sick woman is using her sons death as a way to get rich. a person i am acquinted with at rockstar says they arent worried (btw, i live in nyc, rockstar ny is located right here in manhattan), because its bs. people have tried before and failed. the judges tend to go on precedent. even a us case will have impact on rockstar london, in that precedent was already set that games dont cause violence. when id was attempted to be sued, it came out as no claim. dont worry people, they have tried for years to blame bad parenting on someone other than the parent and always seem to fail. – by happy hacker

stop this senseless video violence!(1:15pm est mon aug 02 2004)come on, now. it's about time that the video game industry cleaned up its act,for all our sakes. how many more must die before this sort of thing gets taken seriously. blaming parents is an easy out, but it's unrealistic. kids want to imitate what they see, and if they see manhunt all day, they might be more inclined to go out and start killing. remember columbine? vid games involved there too. – by reality sucks, eh?

lawyers go after the ones with money(1:27pm est mon aug 02 2004)corporations have lots of money therefore they are perpetual targets of lawsuits. – by not a lawyer

centred(1:30pm est mon aug 02 2004)if you don't like the game don't buy it, but regardless they will be made as long as there is a demand.

other companies make pornographic material and cigars all 18+ but you don't see me giving my 14year old cigars to smoke and porno to watch same with video games… if there is a 18+ warnning i'm sure it's for a good reason.

and if you can't keep track of your kids maybe you shouldn't have kids… but then it might be too late already.– by 18+

re: weneedadraft, reality sucks, eh?(1:31pm est mon aug 02 2004)im 22, i am a child of the violant games era in gaming and u know what? i am in college, studyign engineering. i have not killed on person and am perfectly well adjusted. after hearing this news i went right out and bought the game manhunt for every system i own. its actually quite fun. you guys obviously would rather not be at fault if your children did this, better to blame games better to blame something you don't understand. better to blame someone with deep pockets. this peice of human filth they call the victems mother should have piles of shit thrown at her, she is about as worthless as a pile of shit. trying to make money of her childs death, what a worthless peice of human scum. you people who blame video games movies tv for this shit are just about as bad too. i am living proof i watch all the violent gorry movies i play all the games that people have sued over for the last 10 years. i dont even have a fucking parking ticket. don't tell me video games music and movies do this, people like u who blame anything but yourselves for these problems and can't take the time to raise your children right do this, you are all as sick and disgusting as the teen murder that killed the kid with the hammer. – by supes

bad parenting?(1:45pm est mon aug 02 2004)to those who are against blaming the parents, you say these games make children violent. debatably, but for the moment let's just assume that it's true. it still comes back to bad parenting. the game has a picture of a guy in a bloody mask on the front cover and an 18+ cert in the corner. the back cover warns that the game contains “intense violence, strong language, blood and gore” and features more pictures from the game. how can a parent who lets their children play such a game be free of blame? if a kid is drinking underage is it the fault of liqueur company? i would say definitely not. and yet games companies always seem to get blamed for children playing games that they aren't supposed to. – by mick

here is a funny story…(1:50pm est mon aug 02 2004)i am currently in turkey. my g/f was here till today when we took her to the airport. on the ferry we were sort of cuddling and little kisses. i am not going to see her for a month so…

this 60 year old guy behind us complained loudly, took me to the side and explained that it is very bad to do this in turkey and that some muslims would hurt or kill us. also that what we were doing was pornographic. i am not joking. i later talked to my aunt about it and she said it is true.

here is my question… if what me and my g/f were being pornographic… what do they consider the lady in lingerie with her hand down her underwear in the paper? this picture was in the newspaper the same day.

maybe they play gta3? they should come out with a new gta… in ýstanbul. – by chuckycheese

supes(1:51pm est mon aug 02 2004)you are 22 and still can't spell? maybe you should spend some more time studying and not playing violent vid games. you may think you are well adjusted, but who knows? for all i know you are just as likely to pull out an uzi and start spraying students with bullets. – by reality sucks

oopps(1:54pm est mon aug 02 2004)i for-got to mention the alcohol to go with the cigar and the “reading material”.

if you ask me i don't think the 14year old kid's elevator went all the way up to the top floor.. i mean how can you think cracking your friends head is ok?!? or stabbing him with a kitchen knife??? what was he thinking he could hit the “reset” button???– by 18+

violent cartoons kill people(2:03pm est mon aug 02 2004)oh my goodness, it's not just video games . it's movies, cartoons, violent novels, guns, knives, drugs, pencils, comics, lead pipes, spider man, super man, client eastwood, terminator arnold.. what about the history channel? talk about disturbing! these poor, poor people… they have no choice but to kill.. it's not their fault. they chould be set free and the companies responsible for their acts should be sued and their leaders imprisoned! down with home depot! – by get real…

re: by reality sucks(2:16pm est mon aug 02 2004)excuse me for typos, i swear you make some typos and thats the only thing people can use as a come back. why not on what i actually said insted of the fact that i type fast and make typos. learn to talk about material and not sit there making whiny personal attacks. you know we coudl always go back to the days of people protesting our gun rights and saying we should have them all taken away, how about hammers too? knives shovels, shit lets take everything in this country that can hurt another person, and just toss it in the ocean. then all the nations problems will be solved right? right? or maybe we can whine and bitch till we are blue in the face how violence in movies tv and games ruined our children. anyone forgetting the violence protraied in things like the bible? i am going to get one right now, read it again, then go on a craized killing spree killing all people the bible says are evil! ya and then all my victems families can sue the catholic church, come on people they got loads of money! hell lets just watch read or listen to something violent, and then rape, kill, steal, vandilize, and destroy to our hearts content. then we can sue rockstar, warner bro's, interscope records, all of them. come on people if this peice of shit they call a mother can do it why not us? eh? why not?

p.s. if all u can do is bitch about my typos, go the fuck home you obviously have nothing intelligent to say – by supes

terrorists with video game overload(2:20pm est mon aug 02 2004)i now know what the terrorist have been doing in their spare time! we need to bomb the game manufacturers, not those poor brainwashed people who behead us. did anyone happen to see what kind of knife that was? now there's a lawsuit waiting to happen! – by what was i thinking?

case in point(2:26pm est mon aug 02 2004)there's a lot of wrong information floating about about this case in particular. the media are entirely focused on the video games aspect.

first of all, it was the victim that was 14. the killer was 17.

if you dig a little deeper into the story, you'll find that he admited in court that he was robbing the kid to repay a drugs debt. now, call me crazy, but i'd call that a pretty important factor in this murder.

then there's video games connection. i think this quote from the perpetrator's mother shows how iron clad the connection is. “i think that i heard some of warren's friends say that he was obsessed by this game.” well if she thinks she heard someone else say it, it must be true. – by mick

do not blame the game!!(2:31pm est mon aug 02 2004)parents should not buy violent games to their kids. it's either not to buy violemt games or teach their kid that games are not real!! most parents are letting game machine and tv to babysit the kids so parents can walk away from them. wrong!!!! parent should teach kids to learn whats real and whats not real. use commonsense!!! its not game or tv faults!!!

i had to watch my kid play violent games but gets too excited so i had to remove the violent games and switch to puzzle and/or education games. and telling my kid that games are not real. to make sure my kid understand.

parents, watch your kids and use your commonsense! read the parental label! or use your judgement about the game or tv on how might effect your kids!!!be responsiable to your family, not machines!!! do not use electronic entertainment as a babysitter!!! – by wack2k

reality sucks(2:46pm est mon aug 02 2004)i wouldn't doubt that your twisted reality does suck. paranoia must be a terrible thing to experience. do you think this unfounded paranoia came from teachings (or lack thereof) of your parents? have you ever held a cold lifeless pistol? have you ever experienced that feeling of power it gives you? i've held many guns but never, for some wacky reason, felt the need to kill anyone. maybe it's jsut my twisted reality. i never got this from a either game controller or butcher knife. i wonder if pot would do the trick. i know it's got to be a dangerous drug. i mean, the police here in the us will practically shoot you over the stuff. – by people don't kill!

guns kille people..(2:56pm est mon aug 02 2004)actually, there have been very few deaths attributed to guns. most “gun related” deaths are actually related to the small projectile of lead fired from the gun known as the bullet. quite frequently, the gun is actually a long distance from the indivual pierced by the bullet. this make the gun essentially harmless. that darn bullet, on the other hand, is deadly!

lol! – by i crack me up.

parents(3:02pm est mon aug 02 2004)from what i see out in public most parents act like children to begin with. there are too many people having kids that don't want them or won't take the time and responibility to raise them right.

this kids parents are just trying to fill there pockets with rockstar's money. pathetic. – by me

survival of the fittest(3:16pm est mon aug 02 2004)if this kid was stupid enough to try and reenact a game like manhunt, i don't think he was going to get that far in life anyway. i don't think its the parents fault, i know my parents have a hard time keeping track of me. i think its the kids fault for being complete idiots. that jack thompson guy says that the lawsuit is going to be successful because there's a direct link between games like manhunt and teenage killings. just because two things coincide with each other does not mean that one causes the other. there could be a third factor, such as the kid's being complete idiots. given that the way in which the kid died ressembled the video game manhunt, i think its accurate to say the kid would have found another way to kill himself. if i were the retailers in the area, i would've kept manhunt on the shelves.this “violent-games-are-dangerous” argument is a bunch of crap. the only dangerous element that led to this death is stupidity. in fact, stupidity is one of the most dangerous things in the entire world. just look at g.w. bush. – by rotten.com is funny

here we go again(3:42pm est mon aug 02 2004)that is stupid of the parents. if they bought the game for the kid and hes under 18, that should be their problems. it says recommended for mature audience. i guess the kid is not mature enough so he shouldn't be allowed to play the game. if he did then they have no one to blame but themsleves. – by spank the parents